Colorado Gay Couples File Suit To Strike Down Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Nine same-sex couples have filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court seeking to overturn Colorado's constitutional ban on gay marriage.

The lawsuit is the latest of several filed in states across the nation challenging gay marriage bans, including two in Utah and Oklahoma currently before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The issue is likely to culminate in a Supreme Court review.

"This denial of equal protection, due process, and basic fairness violates the Constitution of the United States of America," says the lawsuit filed by the law firms of Reilly Pozner, Law of the Rockies and Gutterman Griffiths.

Colorado's Attorney General John Suthers has stated that he will defend the same-sex marriage ban in court.

Denver City Clerk Debra Johnson says that she personally supports same-sex couples' right to marry, but will not issue marriage certificates to gay couples, per the law.

"I believe all adults should be able to marry the person they love regardless of sexual orientation; however, as an elected official, under oath I am sworn to uphold the law as written, even when those laws are in direct conflict with my personal beliefs," she said in a statement. "I have a lawful duty to administer laws and policies regardless of when they are contrary to my personal beliefs."

Colorado passed bipartisan civil union legislation in the state in 2013.